Peach shell is the fruit peel of the Prunus persica, a member of the Rosaceae family. It is known for its warming and tonifying effects on the stomach and spleen, as well as its ability to nourish the lungs, stop coughing, and reduce swelling. Let's take a closer look at the benefits and uses of peach shell!
【Morphological Characteristics of Peach Shell】
Peach shell is found in riverside and valley wetlands. It is distributed in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Taiwan, and other regions.
Peach shell is irregularly curled and shaped, measuring 2-3.5cm in length and 1-2cm in width. The surface is reddish-brown or brownish-brown with fine wrinkles, while the inner surface is light yellow-brown.
The outer appearance is reddish-brown or brownish-brown, dull and without luster, wrinkled, and with fine wrinkles. Smaller fruits have obvious round pore-like skin openings.
The fruit peel is about 1mm thick, with a dried stigma in the center, measuring 0.5-1cm in length. It is crispy when dry and tough when moist. It has a mild aroma and a sweet, slightly astringent taste. It ripens in batches during the summer, and mature fruits are harvested. After removing the seeds, the fruit peel is dried in the sun or oven-dried.
【Benefits of Peach Shell】
1. Peach shell can treat cough and promote urination.
2. Peach shell can be used to treat spleen deficiency, weak qi, shortness of breath, fatigue, and edema.
3. Peaches have a sweet and sour taste and a slightly cold nature. They correspond to the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian, and the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian.
4. Peach shell can treat swollen and painful gums.
5. The flowers, seeds, and bark also have medicinal value and can be used to treat diabetes and other diseases.
【Medicinal Value of Peach Shell】
Peach shell has the effects of warming the stomach and tonifying the spleen, nourishing the lungs, stopping coughing, and reducing swelling. It is commonly used in the treatment of stomach cold belching, spleen deficiency diarrhea, chronic dysentery, lung deficiency cold cough, and ulcers. The decoction of the bark and roots has an astringent effect and can be used for dysentery.
1. "Gangmu Shiyi" (Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica): Stops hiccup.
2. "Bencao Zai Xin" (Newly Revised Materia Medica): Warms the stomach and tonifies the spleen. Treats lung deficiency cold cough, breaks up blood stasis, and resolves ulcers.
Traditional Chinese medicine suggests that peach shell can be used to make tea, but it is not recommended to consume it indiscriminately during pregnancy. If there are no discomfort symptoms, there is no need to protect the fetus. Just pay attention to it in normal circumstances. After all, peach shell is a type of Chinese herbal medicine, and it is best to avoid taking any medicine during pregnancy.
